Rory Studio CIC

Rory Studio CIC Artist - Illustration - Animation - Theatre Director. Collaboration is a key factor in all of Paul’s projects. Will their bond help them defy the odds?

Paul Miller is a director of Surface Area Dance Theatre and the founder and director of Rory’s Studio, an award-winning arts organisation working across illustration, animation and live
theatre. As a Deaf British Sign Language user, Paul’s work is designed to illuminate andeducate on Deaf culture within mainstream spaces. Based in Newcastle, UK, Paul’s wide-ranging career has led him to work exte

nsively as an ambassador for Deaf Awareness. Notable projects include working with the 2012 Paralympics to
create a live-action short film representing a range of disabled children across the UK, receiving ACE and National Lottery Community funding to create a Youtube channel producing inclusive
children’s stories through lockdown, and working as a guest producer on Where Our Root Are Planted for BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. The project featured renowned deaf choreographer Antoine Hunter and a collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire in Scotland’s BA performance programme, the UK’s first dedicated conservatoire training for Deaf performers. This includes illustration for children’s book authors, partnering with the Royal Association of Deaf People and London’s Camden People's Theatre to create accessible performance work, and travelling to Tokyo to work with Japan Deaf Theatre, supported by Arts Council England’s Artist International Development Fund. Regardless of medium or location, the focus remains the same: working together to increase visibility, understanding and inclusion of Deaf culture in all areas of society, while delighting and exciting audiences along the way. The Gingerbread Witch
Supported by Arts Council England, The Gingerbread Witch was created first as a performance piece in collaboration with artists Vilma Jackson and Joel Daniel. Now devised as a full live touring production, it has also been adapted into animation. Hailing from the old mystical Scottish village of Oban, young twins Anders (deaf) and Aurora (hearing) share a special bond. Children have been inexplicably disappearing in the village for
generations until one day the twins find themselves at the heart of this mystery. This enchanting tale features a deaf character at its core, enabling deaf children to see themselves represented in media from a young age. It was awarded Best Artistic Short Film by Deaffest in 2019, Best Animation Short Film by Festival Clin d'Oeil, and in 2020 Colombia’s
International Deaf Arts Festival screened the theatre production virtually. Alexander on the Train
To celebrate his great grandfather’s 90th birthday, Alexander heads on an incredible train journey from Newcastle to Berwick. What will he find on his magical journey through the Northumberland countryside? Supported by Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund and Surface Area Dance Theatre, Alexander on the Train features illustration alongside simultaneous voice narration and BSL interpretation. A heartwarming tale highlighting the beauty of everyday
moments, this short film reminds viewers of the childlike wonder the world around us can evoke. Whether it be a loving family or a rugged coastal view, Alexander on the Train seamlessly integrates communication for both hearing and deaf communities, highlighting how everyday enchantment can be a universal experience.

This year didn’t start the way I planned. I broke my elbow, so I had to postpone all my projects until mid-February. It’...
08/01/2025

This year didn’t start the way I planned. I broke my elbow, so I had to postpone all my projects until mid-February. It’s been tough, and I realized I need to be more careful. Injuries like this can slow down work and make it harder to communicate—I can’t even sign my name right now!

Still, I didn’t let it stop my creativity. I’ve been writing new stories, typing with one hand, and I just finished a draft! Now I’m giving my eyes a rest before editing it with fresh eyes.

Thankfully, my right hand is fine, so I can still draw and work on illustrations. That makes this a great time to build new portfolios. Even with a broken elbow, I’m finding ways to keep going!

Exciting News!I'm thrilled to share that I’ve been accepted into the Discovery Fund and have the incredible opportunity ...
06/12/2024

Exciting News!

I'm thrilled to share that I’ve been accepted into the Discovery Fund and have the incredible opportunity to work with PROTO for two days in January. During this time, I’ll be researching and developing new ideas, including using motion capture to create a 3D avatar that can sign a poem from my book The Tale of Victor the Misfit Creator in British Sign Language (BSL)!

I’m really looking forward to this opportunity!

Exciting News!We’re thrilled to announce that Rory Studio is now officially Rory Studio CIC! This new chapter reflects o...
14/11/2024

Exciting News!

We’re thrilled to announce that Rory Studio is now officially Rory Studio CIC! This new chapter reflects our commitment to creating an even greater positive impact within our community while continuing to deliver the same passion, creativity, and innovation you’ve come to know and love.

As a Community Interest Company (CIC), our focus will be on providing animation, illustration, creative writing, photography workshops, theater productions, and festivals for children across Northeast England — all aimed at creating meaningful experiences for both our community and you, our valued supporters.

Thank you for your continued support. We can’t wait to share what’s next!

11/11/2024

Ouch that gonna hurt!! Animation short film in progressions The tales of Victor the Misfit Creator! -artist -animation

08/11/2024

I’m so pleased to be back at work this week after being unwell with a horrible case of COVID for two weeks! Now, I’m diving back into my animated short film, and it’s coming along nicely. All the animation is done by hand-drawing, with backgrounds, foregrounds, and props painted in Photoshop. Over the past year, I’ve created several animated short films and learned a lot from each one. I’ve put a tremendous amount of work into this project, adding intricate details and animations to every scene. There are no shortcuts in animation—it’s a slow, meticulous process that requires countless drawings, paintings, and precise timing. But I truly enjoy creating animation, and I can’t wait to finish this one!

The Dragon Dwelling in My House!
15/10/2024

The Dragon Dwelling in My House!

Illustrating children’s books is a passion of mine, one which has lead to working with renowned writers such as Julia Do...
12/10/2024

Illustrating children’s books is a passion of mine, one which has lead to working with renowned writers such as Julia Donaldson, as well as various other notable local writers. I enjoy working with writers on their commission pieces, bringing together the vision of their story. Throughout my career, I have always developed my own series of books - and in more recent years, I have launched a new series of books titled 'The Monster Chronicles'. The books are a collection of monster based stories that involve a young deaf boy fighting off various monsters - who appear in different forms - to save his twin sister. I felt compelled to write books that feature deaf characters at its core, enabling young deaf children to experience the same character relatability within a story as other children. The stories are somewhat darker than usual children’s books, and that is because I have always been interested in classic Hammer Horror films, and I am also a devoted follower of Tim Burton.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Paul-Miller/author/B075ZTDXFZ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

[email protected]" rel="ugc" target="_blank">[email protected]
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The lonely creature wanders the enchanted woods, longing for companionship, a chance encounter with Lily ignites a heart...
12/10/2024

The lonely creature wanders the enchanted woods, longing for companionship, a chance encounter with Lily ignites a heartwarming journey. Together, they confront challenges, uncover mysteries within the eerie castle, and triumph over Victor’s sinister intentions.

All Rights Reserved 2024

My new portfolio page on instagram:
https://www.threads.net/

The Tale of Victor the Misfir Creator is now on Amazon

I had a really good meeting with Proto: The Advanced Media Production, despite feeling rough due to a bad cold!I'm looki...
08/10/2024

I had a really good meeting with Proto: The Advanced Media Production, despite feeling rough due to a bad cold!

I'm looking forward to working with them soon, creating, experimenting, and developing one of my storybooks in British Sign Language (BSL) using caption motion technology, so that my 3D character can sign in BSL.

I'm also excited to explore further developments for my future theatre productions.

Proto: The Advanced Media Production (AMP) network is the UK’s first networked advanced media production studio and the first interconnected 5G-enabled facility, designed to explore research and innovation in media production.

Meet Victor the misfit creator, I’m still hard at work on this animation project. It's coming along nicely, though there...
17/09/2024

Meet Victor the misfit creator, I’m still hard at work on this animation project. It's coming along nicely, though there's still plenty to do.

I’ve received very positive feedback so far. This short film will feature visual animation throughout, with occasional poetic text.

Written and animated by Paul Miller Rory Studio















Progress Update on The Tale of Victor the Misfit Creator: Sneak Peek Inside!I haven’t posted much lately because I’ve be...
03/09/2024

Progress Update on The Tale of Victor the Misfit Creator: Sneak Peek Inside!

I haven’t posted much lately because I’ve been hard at work on a short animated film called The Tale of Victor the Misfit Creator. I’ve finished creating the cut-out characters in Harmony Premium and am now working on animating the scenes, which is the fun part! So, there hasn’t been much to share, but here’s a little sneak peek!

Sheila Graber I was thrilled to receive your delightful book ‘Colour Your Own Tyneside.’ I’m incredibly grateful and hon...
03/08/2024

Sheila Graber I was thrilled to receive your delightful book ‘Colour Your Own Tyneside.’ I’m incredibly grateful and honored that my colouring in the ‘Tyne Tugs,’ graces the cover. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

What a fantastic day at the Newcastle Deaf Centre! The creativity on display was incredible, with children and teens cra...
02/08/2024

What a fantastic day at the Newcastle Deaf Centre! The creativity on display was incredible, with children and teens crafting some truly amazing clay characters for our stop-motion animation project.

Today marked our final workshop, and now I’m gearing up for a much-anticipated three-week holiday with my loved ones, Helen and Alexander. We’re bubbling with excitement about our upcoming adventure, ready to explore somewhere beautiful together, just the three of us!

Behold Fangrella, the charming little spider creeping crookedly along, weaving webs of wonder. As a close companion of t...
26/07/2024

Behold Fangrella, the charming little spider creeping crookedly along, weaving webs of wonder. As a close companion of the enigmatic Gothrella, their adventures are nothing short of magical!

Behold Fangrella, the charming little spider creeping crookedly along, weaving webs of wonder. As a close companion of t...
26/07/2024

Behold Fangrella, the charming little spider creeping crookedly along, weaving webs of wonder. As a close companion of the enigmatic Gothrella, their adventures are nothing short of magical!

Dive into the Mystical World of Scottish Folklore with "The Monster Chronicles: Selkie The Seal Man" book series VDiscov...
25/07/2024

Dive into the Mystical World of Scottish Folklore with "The Monster Chronicles: Selkie The Seal Man" book series V

Discover the Magic of Scotland:
Born and raised in Scotland, I’m proud to bring you a tale inspired by the enchanting folklore Selkie.

My visit to the majestic Bamburgh Castle and the serene Farne Islands sparked the creation of this gripping adventure.

A Family Holiday Turned Legendary:
In "The Monster Chronicles: Selkie The Seal Man," twins Anders and Aurora are on a family vacation near Bamburgh Castle when they encounter a mysterious green creature with bright yellow eyes. Could this be the dangerous Selkie of local legend? Guided by an old fisherman’s tale and armed with their grandmother’s enchanted gloves, they embark on a perilous rescue mission.

A Journey of Courage and Myth:
Join Anders, Aurora, and their mother as they navigate dark tunnels, brave swelling seas, and explore smelly caves. Will they survive the encounter with the timeless sea legend, or will they become its next victims?

Experience the Thrill:
This latest addition to the Monster Chronicles series promises an unforgettable adventure filled with courage, myth, and the rich tapestry of Scottish folklore.

Written and Illustrated by Paul Miller
Bringing stories to life through vivid illustrations and engaging storytelling, I invite you to explore this new adventure.

Order Your Copy Today!:
Embark on this thrilling journey by getting your copy on Amazon. Order now and let the adventure begin!

www.rorystudio.com

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0D9HLJ866/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&dib_tag=AUTHOR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.BddWH2lnxGYkHjuFWFLOCTJX5woiUwKcs2GVg0JekkCzSBQT1p_sbN9813KVoglQnpPCdK6Fnth9ETSwa4bqA-XeEmRzi213AyguKVltgXC5qHa7gW2ajWu0hJw4-GvzhP-ddeGiGnJ_-hE9SFX7D64DClUo4IhGAuR3bJD8bzml82__93a70NilnOChwNPV2S4Q_NW7DMeqVlSI7zK_SjpLd5TvcvhLAUG93fWmRQA.6zSOVw4GQFHA4kSfIE7pj4FlFwb9Z-hHEHmMUrxZ1MA&qid=&sr=

Here’s another rough sketch of the creeping crow, one of the eerie characters from my story “Gothrella.” I hope it sends...
25/07/2024

Here’s another rough sketch of the creeping crow, one of the eerie characters from my story “Gothrella.” I hope it sends shivers down your spine, but not too many!

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My Work!

I am the founder and Director of Rory’s Studio and as a Deaf British Sign Language user, I strive to illuminate Deaf Culture within mainstream forums. I am a resident of Newcastle upon Tyne and an artist who has been educated in the north east, graduating from Newcastle College in 2005, with a foundation degree in animation and illustration. I began my professional career as an illustrator, working in collaboration with writer Julia Donaldson on her children’s book Gruffalo. Since then I have worked extensively as an ambassador for Deaf awareness. In 2012, I was invited by the Paralympics to produce and direct Driving Inspiration, a live action short film that included representation from disabled children from across the UK.

From 2014 - 2016, I began to research and develop Gothrella, - a theatre production made for Deaf and hearing children and families, which involved working in collaboration, with a team of eight professional artists. I extended the dissemination of my research, to involve members of the Deaf community living in London, this was achieved by working in partnership with the Royal Association of Deaf People and Camden People's Theatre, In total, 19 Deaf people and 22 hearing people engaged in the activity which was supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

In 2015 I was appointed a Director of Surface Area Dance Theatre CIC, and have recently completed a national tour of Auricular performed at CCA: Glasgow, Berwick Visual Arts and Turner Contemporary. In May 2017 I travelled to Tokyo, Japan to collaborate with Japan Deaf Theatre and begin a creative dialogue with company members to explore thematic concepts found in the Ginger Bread Witch, which was supported by Arts Council England’s, Artist International Development Fund.

A strand of Rory’s Studio activity involves international exchange and production, In September I was invited by BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art to work in partnership with Nicole Vivien Watson as guest producers for Where our Root are Planted, a participatory project led by the internationally renowned deaf choreographer Antoine Hunter. Students and faculty from the Royal Conservatoire in Scotland took part in the activity, Claire Lamont, Head of BA Performance in BSL & English commented, “It has been wonderful to connect with the work that Nicole Vivien Watson and Paul Miller are leading. Since the BA Performance programme was launched in 2015 as the first dedicated conservatoire training in the UK for deaf performers we have appreciated this relationship and the opportunity it gives us to share knowledge and practice. It is so important for our students to connect with deaf artists and to find out about their pathways into the industry and how they approach the work they are developing. We are incredibly grateful to Nicole and Paul and look forward to an ongoing relationship”.